A Wilson Museum-inspired book discussion series.

There are all sorts of great books out there that can be connected to our museum and mission in some way – from how we think about museums, to encountering more about the cultures and objects we share through our exhibits, to fun ways to explore history. And rather than just read and think about these on her own, Executive Director Julia Gray wants to invite you all to read and talk about some of these books with her! The discussions will be offered both in-person and on Zoom.

In our third book, we dive into the fascinating world of the Museum of Jurassic Technology through Mr. Wilson's Cabinet Of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler. Pronged ants, horned humans, a landscape carved on a fruit pit–some of the displays in David Wilson’s Museum of Jurassic Technology are hoaxes. But which ones? As he guides readers through an intellectual hall of mirrors, Weschler revisits the 16th-century “wonder cabinets” that were the first museums and compels readers to examine the imaginative origins of both art and science. And while definitely not as ironic as David Wilson’s museum, John Howard Wilson’s museum has its own fascinating connections to the early cabinets of curiosity. For this discussion we will be joined by Dru Colbert, an exhibit designer and artist who recently retired from the faculty of College of the Atlantic where she taught students about the history of museums, among other topics.

Books can be purchased at Compass Rose Books or borrowed through Witherle Memorial Library. The discussions are free, but we ask that you register so the folks at Compass Rose know how many books to order. Register with us by visiting the event page.

Wilson Museum
Hutchins Education Center
112 Perkins Street / Castine, Maine